the Captain s Clerk. The Doctor (a young Scotchman of two
and twenty) very kindly explained to me the nature and ceconomy
of our mefs, and every other particular as far as-time would permit.
When bed-time came on, I was in a fad dilemma, for my cot had
been fent by miftake on board- the King George j but my friend
the Doftor very kindly offered me part of his, , which 1 accepted
with leluftance, as I was fenfible it would greatly incommode him :
however, we made tolerable fliift. About midnight, the cot
broke down, and my fituation ,was truly difagreeable; but I chofe
to bear it patiently, rather than difturb my- companion , but <c the
grey moin in rufiet mantle clad” was never more welcome to any
one, than the-approach of this was to me.-
The lituation of life which I am noyv entering upon, being
altogether new to me, I muff inform thee of the plan I have laid
down for the regulation of my future conduct; and I hope thou
wilt join with me in thinking it the moft-probable method; of
fecurmg to myfelf a tolerable fhare of happinefs and tranquillity
during my voyage. As I am a perfect ft ranger to every perfon on
board, and equally fo to the manners and cuftoms of a fea-faring
life, I am determined to aflimilate myfelf as much as poffible to
both, or, as Chefterfield phrafes it, to be “ All things to all men.”
This, I am afraid, will be no eafy tafk, but furely the .objedt in
view is well worth any pains I can take to attain it;
I know thee to be fo fond of characters, that thou art already
impatient to be acquainted with thofe of my fhip-mates ; but
dont be too much in a hurry ; at a future opportunity I perhaps
may oblige thee with an attempt of the defcriptive kind.
Our pilot being come on board, and every thing being ready for 1785.
failing, we weighed anchor on the 29th, at 9 o’clock in the morn- , Aufufty
ing, and ftood down the river for Gravefend. The profpect on
each fide the river, though not fo enriched with gentlemen’s feats,
or pleafure grounds, as beyond London the other' way, is truly
pleafing : it affords many extenfive views, which are agreeably.
Variegated, and inconteftibly prove, that Nature alone is often
fuperior to the utmoft refinements-of Art. The wind and tide
being in our favour, we came to anchor at Gravefend about two
o’clock. Near this -place is Tilbury Fort, the fight of which
reminded me of G. A. Stevens’s Politician, in his celebrated Lee- -
ture on Heads. After-dinner, I went with the Surgeon in one of
our boats to Gravefend, to purchafe fome neceffaries for-our mefs,,
and to gratify my curiofity with a fight'of the - place but I can
•give thee: no, farther defcription of it, than that the Greets are
narrow and dirty, and the inhabitants chiefly thofe who gain a
livelihood by employment either at Tea,, or on the river.
Though we were got- thus far, yet our voyage had like to have
been greatly retarded, on the following account. The articles of
agreement being read to the people this evening, they refufed to
fign them without a greater advance of wages than is ufually -
given; but this Captain Portlock abfolutely refufed to comply
with, and after reafoning with them fome time, they chearfully
agreed to proceed on the voyage : thus, by the addrefs of Captain
Portlock was* this hiatus got over, which otherwile would have
proved very difagreeable, and polfibly have loft us the feafon.
On the 30th in the morning, the people of both flaps were paid
what wages were due to them, together with a month’s advance,
which they prefently laid out in purchafing neceffaries of the flopboats